With Facebook behind it, Opera's path could take a very interesting turn, maybe even one for the better.

Nothing came of the rumors though and it didn't seem like Opera, at least some people at Opera, was all that interested in being acquired.

Opera cofounder Jon von Tetzchner in particular wanted to focus on long-term growth rather than an acquisition.

But he hasn't been CEO for almost three years now and hasn't been involved with the company in any way for some time. He still had over 10 percent of Opera shares though, which meant he could block any acquisition deal.

That's not the case anymore, local reports indicate that he has sold off a significant chunk and that he now owns just 5.18 percent of the company.

That means an acquisition deal could happen, though that doesn't mean there is one.

For many companies, an acquisition is the end of the road, an acknowledgement that they went as far as they could. For some though, it means a new life. Opera could be one of those companies.